Find out how popular the last name Frair is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Frair.

Frair, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Frair surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Frair in America

Frair is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Frair surname appeared 240 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Frair.

We can also compare 2010 data for Frair to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Frair

The surname FRAIR has its origins in the French language, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in northern France, specifically in the region of Normandy. The name is derived from the Old French word "fraire," which means "friar" or "brother." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have had some connection to a religious order or monastic community.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from occupations, locations, or personal characteristics. In the case of FRAIR, it is likely that the name was initially given as a descriptive term to individuals who were associated with a friary or monastery, either as members of the clergy or as lay workers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FRAIR surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. While the name is not explicitly mentioned, there are references to individuals with similar spellings, such as "Frere" and "Fraire," indicating the presence of this surname or its variants in the region.

As the FRAIR surname spread throughout Europe, it underwent various spelling variations. In England, for instance, it appeared as "Fryer" or "Friar," while in France, it remained closer to its original form, "Fraire." These variations reflect the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname FRAIR include:

1. John Frair (c. 1450-1520), an English scholar and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
2. Guillaume Frair (c. 1575-1640), a French composer and music theorist known for his contributions to the development of early Baroque music.
3. Elizabeth Frair (c. 1670-1745), an English writer and poet whose works explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
4. Thomas Frair (1782-1860), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.
5. Marie-Louise Frair (1892-1978), a French painter and sculptor known for her Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, which depicted scenes from everyday life in Paris.

Throughout history, the FRAIR surname has been associated with various locations, including the villages of Fraire and Frairemere in Normandy, France, as well as the town of Friar's Carse in Scotland. These place names may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the surname over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Frair

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Frair.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Frair was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Frair has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Frair was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Frair, please contact us.

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